2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs 2022 Volkswagen Passat

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, part of the W213 generation, debuted in 2017 with a design shift from the sharper angles of the W212 to the fluid, curvier forms seen in the 2014 S-Class and 2015 C-Class. Mercedes' chief designer, Gorden Wagener, described this theme as "sensual purity." The E-Class featured a more aggressive front with squinted headlights and an inverted trapezoid grille, while the rear design echoed the W212 with horizontal taillights cutting into the trunk lid. New bumpers with larger air intakes, new exhaust tips, and new wheels were among the major changes. Despite the updates, the E-Class maintained its elegant and handsome appearance across its sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible variants.

However, the standing hood ornament on the sedans and wagons was discontinued, a classic Mercedes feature that was part of the Luxury package. The Sport package, which replaced the hood ornament with a large star emblem in the grille, became more popular among buyers. The AMG models, with their vertical grille slats and prominent star emblem, suited the performance-oriented design. The E-Class interior was a luxurious space filled with rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber, complemented by metal speaker grilles, elaborate stitching, and ambient lighting. The 2021 model introduced two 12-inch screens with a standard digital display, new steering wheels with touch-sensitive controls, and an overall lavish and modern feel.

To commemorate the end of the Passat, Volkswagen introduced a Limited Edition for the 2022 model year, priced at $31,570. Only 1,973 units were produced, marking the year the Passat first went on sale in Europe. The Limited Edition featured exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, black mirror caps, and special badges, with a unique Racing Green paint option. Other available colors included white, gray, and red.

The interior of the Limited Edition Passat included Mauro Brown leather upholstery, fake wood trim, and special seat tags. Despite its age, the Passat's design remained upscale, with a freshening in 2020 helping to extend its appeal. However, the interior also featured a mix of inexpensive plastics and outdated technologies, such as a 6.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a small driver information display. The cabin's modern touches included integrated dashboard air vents and metallic detailing, but the overall feel was more traditional and less sophisticated compared to newer models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class saw a significant change with the switch from conventional V6 engines to electrified inline-six powertrains for the E450 model, making it a hybrid. This powertrain, introduced on the AMG E53 in 2019, used a 48-volt electrical system to supplement the 12-volt system. A small lithium-ion battery powered an electric starter-generator, providing extra power and torque for brief periods and allowing the engine to shut off more frequently to save fuel and reduce emissions. The new 3.0-liter inline-six engine produced 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with additional power from the battery's overboost. The base E350's 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, revised for 2020, was adequate for everyday driving but lacked the performance expected of a luxury car.

The AMG E53 added a second turbo, powered by the 48-volt battery, to the E450's engine, producing 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The AMG E63 S featured a hand-built 4.0-liter V8 with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 48-volt system. The E-Class offered a range of driving experiences, from the comfortable and quiet E450 to the high-performance AMG models. Fuel economy varied, with the E450 4Matic and E350 4Matic sedans returning 26 mpg combined, while the AMG models had lower ratings.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 174 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The Passat's driving dynamics were a mix of sedate behavior and traditional German handling traits. The turbo engine's torque curve provided adequate power for commuting and highway driving, but the car struggled with immediate power for passing and quick acceleration. The transmission's Sport mode improved responsiveness without significantly affecting fuel efficiency, with the Passat achieving 30.7 mpg in testing, exceeding the EPA rating of 28 mpg combined.

The Passat's ride quality prioritized comfort, with a floating sensation on the road. However, the suspension and tires could feel jittery on city streets and transmitted impacts through the vehicle's architecture. The brake pedal feel was inconsistent, causing occasional aggravation. On the highway, the Passat was quiet, with a low coefficient of drag and silent tires. Despite its sedate nature, the Passat exhibited predictable handling and good visibility, making it enjoyable to drive on twisty roads.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, making everyday tasks easier. The touchpads on the steering wheel were reshaped, and shortcut buttons for navigation, stereo, and other settings remained. The cabin was spacious for four adults, with ample headroom and legroom, supportive cushions, and knee cutouts on the seatbacks. However, the E53 model lacked rear USB ports, a separate climate zone, soft-close doors, and heated rear seats, despite its high price.

The E-Class offered various body styles, including a coupe with usable rear seats, a convertible with limited rear space, and a wagon with a stowable rear-facing jump seat and ample cargo space. The sedan had 13 cubic feet of trunk space, while the two-door models had 10 cubic feet or less with the roof down. The E450 All-Terrain wagon, new for 2021, featured raised ground clearance and plastic body cladding.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat boasted a spacious cabin with room for five adults and a dual-zone climate control system. The Limited Edition's front seats offered eight-way power adjustment but lacked separate bottom cushion angle adjustment, affecting comfort. The rear seats provided excellent legroom and support, with air conditioning vents, USB ports, and coat hooks. Storage space was good, with many locations lined with rubber to reduce noise, but the door-panel bins were hard plastic.

The Passat's trunk offered 15.9 cubic feet of space, with no underfloor trays or side bins. The remote keyless entry fob allowed for easy trunk access, but the trunk lid was not power-operated.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured the MBUX infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, better-organized menus, and shortcut buttons for major functions. Gesture control, natural voice processing, and online searches enhanced usability. The system included features like live feed overlays for navigation, automatic front camera activation, and massaging seats with side bolsters. However, the system did not update over-the-air, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not wireless. Optional driving assists included lane changes, curve slowing, and limited autonomous driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's infotainment system featured a 6.3-inch screen with standard App-Connect smartphone connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth. The R-Line and Limited Edition trims added HD Radio, navigation, and a Fender premium audio system. The voice recognition system worked for simple commands but struggled with complex ones. The Fender audio system provided excellent sound quality, but the overall infotainment system was less sophisticated than other VW models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the safest cars on sale, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS. The E-Class featured innovations like Pre-Safe Sound, side bolster inflation during a side collision, and crosswind countermeasures. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with 14 optional driver-assist features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Passat's safety features lagged behind more modern VW models. The base SE trim included standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. The R-Line trim added automatic high-beam headlights, while the Limited Edition featured adaptive headlights, parking sensors, and park-assist. The IIHS gave the Passat's headlights a "Good" rating, but the NHTSA rated the Passat four stars overall, with a three-star rating for frontal-impact collision protection.